After mistaking our first sighting of the Cadillac CT4 for the CT5 last week and realizing that shortly after, we have been looking for opportunities to get a closer look at the CT4 once again. Our wish was granted yesterday, when our camera man caught up to a convoy of not one, not two, but three CT4 prototypes, and snapped a bunch of photos of each one.
Studying the ensuing pictures has enabled us to conclude with a high level of confidence that the CT4 will follow Cadillac’s new “Y trim level” strategy introduced on the XT4 crossover, which is offered in Luxury (base), Premium Luxury and Sport equipment groups.
The spy photos were first published by our sister site, Cadillac Society.
MODEL YEAR | MAKE | MODEL | TRIM LEVEL | WHEELS | TIRES | EXHAUST TIPS |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2020 | CADILLAC | CT4 (EXPECTED) | LUXURY (BASE) | 17 INCH DOUBLE 5-SPOKE | CONTINENTAL PRO-CONTACT ALL-SEASON GRAND TOURING | DUAL TRAPEZOIDAL |
2020 | CADILLAC | CT4 (EXPECTED) | PREMIUM LUXURY | 18 INCH QUADRUPLE 5-SPOKE | CONTINENTAL PRO-CONTACT ALL-SEASON GRAND TOURING | DUAL TRAPEZOIDAL |
2020 | CADILLAC | CT4 (EXPECTED) | SPORT | 18 INCH DOUBLE 5-SPOKE | CONTINENTAL SPORT CONTACT 6 SSR (235/40 R18) | QUADRUPLE TRAPEZOIDAL |
CT4 Luxury (Base)
What we believe to be the model, known as “Luxury” within Cadillac’s new trim level hierarchy, features a rather tame appearance and two defining characteristics:
- 17-inch wheels with a rather simple dual-five-spoke pattern, the smallest wheels of the prototypes seen here
- Continental ProContact All-Season Grand Touring rubber
- Simple dual exhaust treatment with trapezoidal tips integrated into the rear fascia
From there, the customer can upgrade to either the Premium Luxury or the Sport trim, both of which are positioned on the same “level” in terms of features, while offering different personas, features and driving experiences.
CT4 Premium Luxury
What we believe to be Premium Luxury model features a more luxurious and less sporty appearance with two defining features:
- 18-inch wheels with a sumptuous multi-spoke design (quad five-spoke) that exudes luxury rather than sport
- Continental ProContact All-Season Grand Touring tires
- The same exhaust treatment as the Luxury/base model
CT4 Sport
We believe that this third model is the Sport trim level, represented by a more aggressively appearance and sporty features:
- 18-inch wheels with a sporty dual-five-spoke design
- 235/40 R18 Continental SportContact 6 SSR rubber – a high run-flat performance tire (the SSR designation denotes “Self Supporting Run-Flat”)
- A unique exhaust design with quad tips
The GM Authority Take
It would make sense that the future Cadillac CT4 would utilize the same trim level hierarchy as the XT4 crossover, as both models are aligned within the future Cadillac product portfolio. In fact, Cadillac refers to the CT4’s segment as “Lux Car 2” and to the XT4’s segment as “Lux SUV-2”, though we should note that both models are unrelated from a mechanical standpoint, as they ride on very different platforms (the rear-drive/longitudinal Alpha 2 architecture in the case of the CT4, and the front-drive/transverse E2 platform for the XT4).
It’s also worth noting that that the CT4 is expected to derive a high-performance CT4-V variant, but that model will likely arrive 12-24 months after the launch of the “regular” CT4 – so we will have to wait a while before seeing prototypes of that beast.
Stay tuned for more Cadillac CT4 news.
Comments
Beautiful 🙂
I love Cadillac’s attention to detail in making the grille look like the Cadillac logo by using Camo
I really hope they introduce a V-sport variant from day 1 and then introduce the V a year later.
Why didn’t you blur the faces of the engineers for privacy, Alex?
Nice catch!
Glad they learned their lesson from the ATS & made duel exhausts standard.
Cadillac must deliver knock out both inside & out. An excellent chassis alone won’t cut it this time, Competition is fierce. Not to mention there’s an all new 3-series coming late this year.
I can already say that this will be the best looking car in its segmen. Most of the cars in the C-segment have FWD platforms. And horrible proportions. They just need to make the interior beautiful and we will have the WINNER.
I believe the only competitor to utilize a FWD Architecture is the Audi A4.
3 Series…RWD
C Class…RWD
ATS…RWD
IS…RWD
Giulia…RWD
Q50…RWD
I believe you may be talking about the Near Luxury makers like Volvo, Lincoln, and Acura.
That’s the d-segment. This won’t going to compete there, CT5 will.
This car will be in the C-segment. C-segment is : Benz CLA.
CLA?
This car looks bigger than the ATS LOL
The Mercedes CLA class is FWD….
As long as one of them have a v8 i’m cool
Add a CT4 with the same power train and battery as in the PHEV CT6 and GM will have a winner. It can sell well in every nation that has already restricted normal gas engine vehicle sales. Make it in the U.S. and export it even to China. Many present Chevy Volt owners are waiting for such a luxury PHEV as an upgrade to their present Volts.
I think that initially mistaking of the spy shots of the CT4 for the CT5 arose in large part from not expecting the CT4 be so far along this soon. From what I had read, under the new-model-every-six-months plan, the CT5 would follow the XT4, with the CT4 coming later, perhaps after the XT6. Now it could be that both cars are at a relatively equal point of development. Is it possible that the plan has been accelerated, and both cars will be 2020 models?
Doesn’t appear to be much difference in size between the two and I bet that Charger rear end is real too!
No, those Charger lights are just part of the camo. The real tailights are still the verticals lights we expect on a Cadillac and as you can see in the photos.
These new Cadillacs are going take over the luxury car and truck market! All we are going to hear about in the future is how Cadillac sales are up.
Cadillac will return to its place at the top!
The CT4 and CT5 look to be very attractive. They have a very solid, purposeful look and excellent proportions. I wonder if they are going to push the envelope enough and have any kind of drama and flair like Cadillacs of old had but if not, they’ll at least have a great high-end stance and an expensive look although maybe a bit conservative.
The first gen Cruz had the same solid look whereas the second gen lost that in favor of more trendy Hyundai-like looks.
You saying that the Sport will have run flats and maybe implying that the other 2 trims have standard tires.
If you can get close, it would be nice to have a length measurement.
The photos make CT4 + CT5 look the same length, which we know won’t happen.
Maybe the Sport will have a V-Sport Package, even if no official V-Sport trim.
I’m diggin’ those new wheels, especially the sport with the twisted spokes. Reminds me of the BMW M240i wheels but in a fairly original way.
The proportions look good, but I’ll wait until it goes commando to assess the styling. They’re quite skilled at using camo to give a car a “Wide Load” in the rear, so to speak, lol.
offer a trim level as a awd ev and i’m interested. At bare minimum a PHEV but who needs a gas engine now a days